Fan coil apparatus including a humidification unit and a humidification unit

Abstract

A fan coil assembly comprises a humidification unit and a water recovery system. The water recovery system comprises a member or members that retain water droplets, which may be micro water droplets and optionally collects some or substantially all or all of the droplets that are not evaporated by air passing through the fan coil assembly.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A fan coil apparatus comprising a humidification unit, the fan coil apparatus has a heating zone and an air flow path from an air inlet to an air outlet, a blower positioned in the air flow path, wherein the humidification unit is located downstream of the heating zone and downstream of the blower, the humidification unit comprising:
 (a) a water mist production member provided in an interior volume of a container wherein the interior volume is in a discrete space from the air flow path, the water mist production member is located upstream of, and in fluid communication with, a humidification unit water droplet outlet via a flow conduit extending from the container to the humidification unit water droplet outlet; 
 (b) an air permeable water retaining member positioned in an air flow path downstream from a heating zone and downstream from the humidification unit water droplet outlet wherein the air permeable water retaining member is an open cell material through which air flows; 
 (c) a water impermeable container positioned below the air permeable water retaining member, the water impermeable container having a drain outlet; and, 
 (d) a drain conduit connected in fluid flow communication with the drain outlet, 
 wherein the humidification unit produces a water mist wherein the water mist enters an air flow stream via the humidification unit water droplet outlet, and 
 wherein the air permeable water retaining member is positioned immediately upstream of the air outlet whereby the air permeable water retaining member is positioned between the air outlet and the humidification unit water droplet outlet and air travels linearly from the humidification unit water droplet outlet through the air permeable water retaining member to and through the air outlet in the absence of passing through the blower. 
 
     
     
       2. The fan coil apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the humidification unit comprises an ultrasonic humidifier. 
     
     
       3. The fan coil apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an air outlet plenum and the humidification unit is located in the plenum. 
     
     
       4. The fan coil apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the air permeable water retaining member has a length in a direction transverse to a direction of air flow through the air permeable water retaining member and the humidification unit comprises a mist distributor generally extending in the transverse direction. 
     
     
       5. The fan coil apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drain conduit is connected in fluid flow communication with a drain. 
     
     
       6. The fan coil apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drain conduit is connected in fluid flow communication with the humidification unit at a location upstream of the water mist production member. 
     
     
       7. The fan coil apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the water mist production member comprises an ultrasonic humidifier and a water filter upstream of the ultrasonic humidifier and the drain conduit is connected in fluid flow communication with the humidification unit upstream of the water filter. 
     
     
       8. The fan coil apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drain conduit is connected in fluid flow communication with the humidification unit via a venturi. 
     
     
       9. The fan coil apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the location upstream of the water mist production member is positioned below the water impermeable container whereby water drains from the water impermeable container through the drain conduit under the influence of gravity. 
     
     
       10. The fan coil apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drain conduit is connected in fluid flow communication with a water reservoir of the humidification unit. 
     
     
       11. The fan coil apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the air permeable water retaining member is seated on the water impermeable container. 
     
     
       12. The fan coil apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the air permeable water retaining member is removably receivable from the container. 
     
     
       13. The fan coil apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drain conduit is connected in fluid flow communication with the container.